John deere 730 diesel

[Schewe]

Hi all, I've been around john deere 2 cylinders most my life but never a 2 cylinder diesel. I'm going to look at a John deere 730 green dash tomorrow, it's a wide front with a 3 point that's been converted to electric start. The only thing about it is, it last ran 3 years ago and he said it ran fairly rough then. What are some things to look at on these for basic trouble shooting? Injector spray, intake clear, check for burnt valve etc.? We're they notorious for anything in particular to cause them to run rough? Thanks for all your time

 

[RLA]

We own 2 of them, to be honest there are so many things to check & look for & things to watch
on a 55+ year old 730 to list. Especially one you have not been around or heard run & worked.
A person can get lost in the cost's that brings a 730 back to life of good service, but when
you have a good one, you know it & they are a good work horse.

 

[Joe Mindy]

If you want a 730 buy a gas model that you can work on at home. The diesel is a hopeless money pit. I would be especially wary of one that has been "converted" from pony start to electric start. Green and black dash apply to the early and late "20" series and not to the "30" series. They are notorious for loose flywheels which require expensive crankshaft repairs.

 

[Galen Houk]

Very good advice. I have had several 730 diesels and just sold a 730 gas. I will take a gas any day. The diesels are real workhorses but most of them are just plain worn out. Never buy one without taking off the flywheel cover and checking for play between the flywheel and crank.

 

[Geoff Mathews]

My 730D ran really rough when I first acquired it. It looked good so i reckoned that it would be ok and that is why I bought it. When I got it home I found the fuel was turned off. I turned it on and it went perfectly. That was over 25 years ago and it is still going.

 

[JDPhil]

I bought 730 diesel about 10 years ago not running but looked good. pumps were stuck and flywheel cracked "CHECK THE FLYWHEEL" Got it all fixed and use it to tedder and rake hay and a little tractor pulling no regrets !!!!

 

[Schewe]

Thanks all the replies guys, I think I'm going to steer away from the 730 because of all the advice and my lack of knowledge on them. My thinking the 730 had black and green dashes just goes to show that hah. I think I'll look for a 70 or 720 gas as they seem easier to find than a 730 gas and all I'm really looking for is a 2 cylinder with live power. We're the flywheel splines a issue on the gas tractors? On our letter series we just put a grade 8 bolt in the flywheel and make sure it's tight every once in a while

 

[John Deere D]

I own,operate,and maintain a JD 520 ...Power steering, Live PTO, Remote Hydraulics, Large width rear Tires on 30" Rims. If you are looking for a very affordable tractor a JD 520 might be the answer. The book states Belt HP 38.58 and Drawbar HP 34.31. I seen 41 HP on the Dyno. This 520 pulls 2 16" in 3 rd in hay land at 6" deep. I used a neighbours 3 14" Massey Plow and pulled the plow in 2 nd at 6 " deep in hay land. The rear tires are loaded with Calcium Chloride for Ballast.
If you can get by with a machine under 40 HP this is a very affordable, versatile machine. I have never seen or worked on a JD 520,530,AR,70,620,630 Gas models and discovered a loose Flywheel.
Bob...

 

[ss55]

Interesting rear wheels and tires. Are they original or are they from a JD utility tractor?

 

[John Deere D]

Hi.....
The cast centers were on a JD 3020..........the Tires and Rims were on a VERSATILE 4WD. I used Items # 3/4/12/13 from the original 38" JD 520 cast centers. With the rear tires evenly spaced there is 3/16" clearance on the inside of the Right tire and the Clutch/Pulley.